Hand grenade



INVENTOR. 5/76 A. JOWYJ/lfl 77O/P/VEY E. L. SAMANN HAND GRENADE April 2, 1946.

Filed March 26, 1942 Patented Apr. 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND GRENADE Eric L. Samann, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application March 26, 1942, Serial No. 436,220

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to hand grenades and has particular reference to firing means for igniting the substance with which the body of the grenade is filled. This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application 424,703, filed December 29, 1941.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a firing mechanism or igniter which, when attached to a receptacle which becomes shattered or broken on contact with the target or other object against which it is thrown or dropped, will produce a firing or igniting flame on the breaking of the receptacle thereby to ignite the material spilled from the receptacle.

It is a further object to provide a firing mechanism or igniter which will be simple in constructional features but will also be positive in its action.

It is another object to improve the construction shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 424,703, of which this application is a continuation-impart and also to simplify the construction and reduce the cost of manufacture while retaining efficiency in operation.

The above and other objects of the invention will appear more fully in the following more detailed specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and wherein Fig. 1 is an assembly view showing an elevation of a bottle or liquid container to which the firing mechanism of this invention has been attached, portions of the firing mechanism being shown in section so as to reveal the details of construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the assembly of Fig. 1 taken from the top of the bottle.

Fig. 3 is a view of the same structure shown in Fig. 1 but showing the bottle shattered and the movement of the parts producing a firing action of the firing mechanism completed.

Referring to the drawing, any suitable size and form of frangible container for inflammable or explosive material adapted to shatter on impact may be used with the igniter or firing mechanism of this invention, such as the bottle I I shown in Fig. 1. The firing mechanism shown at the bottom of Figs. 1 and 2 comprises an assembly secured to the bottle preferably by a metal band I2 of such material as may readily conform to the contour of the bottle. As shown in Fig. 2, the band or holding member I2 is formed to surround the firing mechanism assembly I4 so that the assembly is securely clamped to the bottle by the band I2. A trigger pin I5 is preferably made integral with the band I2 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and projects into the firing mechanism as shown best in Fig. 1. preferably made on the band as shown, by a punching operation which forms the metal of the band into the inwardly extending projection. It will be apparent on inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 that the firing mechanism assembly is held in place by being positioned between the bottle II and the band I2, the trigger pin I5 projecting into the firing assembly I4 preventing endwise sliding movement and also thru pressure of the band the trigger pin also holds the firing mechanism assembly against the bottle. The band I2 conforms to the shape of the firing mechanism adjacent the trigger pin I5 as shown in Fig. 2 and forms an efiective cover and semi-seal for the opening in the side of the firing mechanism through which the trigger pin projects. A saddle lug I6 conforms to the shape of the bottle and forms a support against the bottle as shown in Fig. 2. It can, therefore, be said that the trigger pin I5 holds the firing mechanism against lateral, longitudinal and transverse movement and furthermore when the device is ready for use the trigger pin I5 integral with the band forms the only connection holding the firing mechanism against the container. It is important to note that there is no positive fastening of the saddle lug It to the bottle other than by frictional contact and if the bottle were broken, the firing mechanism would be free (after release of the safety later described) to fall away from the trigger pin I5, for the definite purpose of actuating the firing mechanism.

The main assembly Id of the firing mechanism is composed of a length of tubing I! which forms the firing pin chamber, and a second length of tubing I8 which forms the shell chamber and fits inside the firing pin chamber I1. A plate I9 is secured in the end of the firing pin chamber I I by crimped edges as shown and serves to close the end of the chamber. A firing pin 20 having a cylindrical body portion is positioned within the firing pin chamber I1 where it is normally urged toward the shell chamber I8 by the action of a suitable spring 2I which is held between the firing pin 20 and the plate I9. The firing pin 20 has a shank portion 20a of a diameter such that spring 2| can just slide between it and the inside surface of the tube. The tube is thus supported on the inside by the main cylindrical portion of the firing pin which is a sliding fit in the tube and by the shank 20a and the spring as well, a feature which tends to prevent jamming of the The trigger pin I5 is mechanism in case of striking a sharp object. The length of the shank and cylindrical portion of the firing pin is preferably about 1 times the inside diameter of the tube.

The previously mentioned trigger pin l5 serves to hold the firing pin from movement toward the shell chamber against the action of spring 2! until the trigger pin is forced from the firing mechanism and from its contact with the firin pin. As a safety measure thefiring pin is also held by the. safety Din-s22 which maybe pulled out from its position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with ready for use. purpose, namely, to hold the firing mechanism assembly M in a definite position relative to the band I2. This is accomplished as shown best in forced outward will immediately cause the parting of the firing mechanism assembly 14 from the trigger pin l5 which will result in the releas of the firing pin and cause it to strike against the percussion cap end of the shell 24 which will result in firing of the shell and the ejection of sufficient flame from the end of the shell and the tube [8 to ignite the inflammable material spilled from the bottle on the breakage thereof.

'It'isalso' an important feature that the device herewith disclosed may be easily manufactured in quantities, the firing mechanism, as above described, may be constructed from two pieces of Fig. 2 by the arrangement wherein thesafety pin .1

22 extends through holes in the band l2 and also through a hole in the firing mechanism 24. With the safety pin 22 in place and holding the several parts together, the safety feature of the device is assured since even though thecontainer be dropped and broken, the firing mechanism will not operate unless the safety pin 22 is removed.

The fact that the saddle lug. H5 is also positioned by the safety pin 22 assures that this saddle will be properly aligned with the band 12 making it possible to assemble the unit.to the container if desired by sliding the band and positioned saddle lug over the container and if desired the band might beconstructed with sufficient spring to allow such assembly. It is my intention also that a suitable clamp, such as the friction clamp 26 shown, might be added to the band to allow for adjustment and to secure the band in. place O the container. It is understood,,however, that any suitable type of clamp might be used although with the one shown the clamp might be tightened conveniently by pressure applied by a suitable tool to bring the lugs 2'1, 28 toward each other.

After the safety pin 22 has been removed by pulling on the ring 23, the trigger pin [5 will be the only retaining member preventing the firing pin'Zll from being forcibly pushed toward the shell chamber by the spring 2!. A shell 24 i placed in the firing chamber and has a conventional percussion cap end 25 which will be detonated when struck by the firing pin 20. Such striking occurs when said pin is forcibly urged by the spring 2| on release of trigger pin from contact with the firing pin 20. It is, of course, understood that the shell 24 has suitable explosive material therein to produce a flame which will be forcibly ejected from the end of the shell and the shell chamber 18 on detonation of the shell as above explained. -In order that the above action of the firing mechanism may take place, it is only necessary that the container bebroken whichresult will be obtained when the container is thrown or dropped against some. object with sufficient force. As shown in Fig. 3, when this breakage occurs there is nothing to hold the firing mechanism in contact with the trigger pin 15. The trigger pin 15, as shown in Fig. 1, has the surface which projects into the firing mechanism tapered or curved so that when the edge of the firing 20 rests against this curved surface of the pin l5 there is a component of force inthe direction tending to push the pin out from theming mechanism. From the above description, it will be-apparent that when a container is broken and the firing mechanism is free to fall away from the pin I5,=the fact that the pin tends tube tubing, the firing pin I! being of larger size than the shell chamber 18. The shell and the adjacent firing mechanism may be easily assembled. before the plate i9 is put in place through the opening at I9, the shell being first put in place and next the safety pin 22 which will make it possible to assemble the firing pin 20 and the spring 2: after which the plate 19 is finally assembled and the end crimped as shown to hold the sprin and the firing pin unit in place. As previously mentioned, the entire holder and firing pin unit may be assembled together and later placed on a container if so desired. Another important feature from a manufacturing standpoint i the stamping of the trigger pin 15 out of the band l2 and forming it as an integral part of the band.

Although I have described the invention as applied in a specific structure found practical for actual operation, it is understood that various modifications may be made without. departing from the principles of the invention herein disclosed and I therefore, do not desire to limit myself to the specific embodiment herein disclosed but rather to the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a firing mechanism for igniting combustible material spilled from a frangible container shatterable on impact, of a clamping holderembracing said container and said firing' mechanism for securing the latter against said container, and a trigger pin formed integral with said holder and projecting into said firing mechanism to hold said mechanism from actuation until shattering of said container releases said firing mechanism.

2. The combination with a firing mechanism and a frangible container containing combustible material, of a clamping holder for clamping said firing mechanism between said holder and said container, a trigger pin formed on said holder and held in contact with said firing mechanism by the clamping pressure of said holder to prevent actuation of said firing mechanism while it is held between said holder and said container and automatically releasing said firing mechanism when the clamping pressure of said holder is released by breakage of said container thereby to engage said combustible material.

3. The combination with a firing mechanism and a frangible container containing combustible material, of a clamping holder surrounding said firing mechanism and said container, a trigger pin formed on said holder and held in contact with said firing mechanism by the clamping pressure of said holder, to prevent actuation of said firing mechanism while it is held between said holder and said container and automatically releasing said firing mechanism when the clamping pressure of said holder is released by breakage of said container thereby to ignite said combustible material, a safety .pin projecting through the said holder and-said firing mechanism for holding said firing mechanism against actuation and also serving to position said firing mechanism relative to said holder and to prevent actuation thereof until said safety pin is removed to render said mechanism ready for use.

4. A unitary firing mechanism adapted to be manually attached to a frangible container comprising a shell casing and a firing pin chamber, a percussion cartridge shell mounted in said casing, a firing pin and resilient means to normally urge the same towards said shell mounted in said chamber and readily removable safety means assembled with said mechanism in the initial assembly thereof to hold said firing pin in cocked position, adjustable resilienticlamping means for manually securing said firing mechanism to frangible containers of different diameters, a trigger associated with said container and firing mechanism for engaging said firing pin and hold ing it in cocked position after the removal of said safety device, and means, including said clamping means and container, for retaining said trigger in engagement with said firing pin as long as pressure is exerted by said clamping means on an intact container but automatically releasing said trigger and firing pin to fire said shell when said pressure is relieved by breakage of said con tainer.

5. A device of the character described comprising a frangible container adapted to contain an ignitible substance, a self-contained unitary firing mechanism separate from said container and comprising a shell casing and a firing pin chamher, a percussion cartridge shell mounted in said casing, a firing pin and resilient means tonormally urge the same towards said shell mounted in said chamber, a resilient split clamping ring provided adjacent to its ends with cooperating adjustable self-locking means to enable said ring to be clamped upon containers of different diameters, a readily removable safety means assembled with said firing mechanism and said clamping ring in the initial assembly thereof to hold said firing pin in cocked position, and to secure said clamping ring to said firing mechanism, a trigger pin formed on said clamping ring for engaging said firing pin and hold it in cocked position after the removal of said safety device and for preventing relative movement between said clamping device and said firing mechanism after they have been secured upon a container, the clamping pressure of said clamping device retaining said trigger pin in engagement with said firing pin as long as said container is intact and when said container is shattered and the pressure of said clamping device released said trigger pin will automatically disengage from said firing pin to release the same and cause said shell to be exploded to ignite the material in said container.

6. In combination with a frangible container shatter-able on impact and adapted to be filled with an ignitible substance, a firing mechanism comprising a tubular casing containing a spring loaded firing pin and a percussion charge for ejecting a flame from said firing mechanism to ignite said substance, said casing being provided with an aperture adjacent to saidfiringrpin, a resilient clamping member embracing said container and firing mechanism for securing said firing mechanism to said container solely by the resilient pressure of said clamping member against said mechanism and said container, said clamping member having an integral portion adapted to project through said aperture into said firing mechanism for engaging said firing pin and holding it in cocked position when said mechanism is secured by said clamping member to said container whereby when said container is shattered and the pressure of said clamping member is thereby released, the portion of said clamping member which projects into said firing mechanism will also be released from engagement with said firing pin and impact of said firing pin against said percussive charge is effected.

7. A firing mechanism comprising a shell chamber, an explosive shell positioned within said chamber, a firing pin, means normally urging said firing pin towards said shell, a resilient clamping band for detachably securing said firing mechanism to a frangible container adapted to be filled with an ignitible substance with said firing mechanism held solely by the pressure of said clamping band against the body of said breakable container, said clamping band being provided with an integral projection for engagement with said firing pin to hold it from movement towards said shell whereby upon shattering of said container the pressure of said clamping band will be released, said projection will be released from contact with said firing pin and said firing pin will be released to strike said shell to cause explosion thereof and to ignite the ignitible substance spilled from said container.

ERIC L. SAMANN. 

